Police SUV Stolen By Dexterous Arrestee In Ellicott City: HCPD

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A man suspected of shoplifting $3,000 of merchandise from the Ellicott City Walmart made off with something more valuable after his arrest, according to the Howard County Police Department. Police allege he stole the patrol SUV while the officer was collecting evidence in the store.

Police had responded to the Walmart in the 3200 block of North Ridge Road at 10:09 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, for a report of merchandise theft in progress.

The arriving officer saw a man with about $3,000 worth of merchandise and chased him, taking him into custody after a brief foot pursuit, according to police.

After cuffing the man's hands behind his back and fastening his seat belt to secure him in the vehicle, police said the officer went into the store to get evidence.

At that point, police allege the suspect maneuvered his handcuffs so they went from behind him to in front of him, climbed into the driver’s seat, and he drove off.

Individuals "especially of a smaller stature" are sometimes able to manipulate the position of handcuffs, Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn told WBAL Radio. "It's not as uncommon as people might think."

Authorities used GPS tracking on the police car to locate it, according to WBAL.

Police said that the vehicle was intercepted in Baltimore, where the man was apprehended.

Jerome Cecil Rucker, 32, of the unit block of Haven Court in Nottingham, was charged with nine offenses:

• Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle
• Unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle
• Theft from $1,500 to $25,000
• Two counts of possession of drugs other than marijuana
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Resisting/interfering with arrest
• Failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order
• Second-degree escape

Rucker is being held without bail, according to court records.

According to WBAL, he was found in the 2400 block of Westwood Street. That is more than 10 miles away from the Ellicott City Walmart.